Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Complicated with Femoral Head Ischemic Necrosis Treated by Chinese Medicine Therapy for Activating Blood and Dredging Collaterals Method

Objective：To observe the effect and mechanism of Chinese medicine therapy for activating blood and dredging collaterals（ABDC） on treating systemic lupus erythematosus complicated with avascular necrosis of the femoral head（SLE-ANFH）.Methods：Thirty-four patients（51 joints） with SLE-ANFH were assigned by a random number table to two groups：22 patients（32 joints） in the treatment group and 12 patients （19 joints） in the control group.All received Western medical conventional treatment for anti-inflammation and immunosuppression,but an additional Chinese medicine decoction prescribed based on ABDC principle was administered to patients in the treatment group.The observation on the patients＇ condition and therapeutic effect lasted for 3 years.Results：The patients＇ conditions in the two groups,as assessed by Association for Research Circulation Osseous（ARCO） staging,were similar before treatment.After treatment,comparison between groups showed significant difference（P0.05）,and the raised Harris functional scores in the treatment group were higher than that in the control group（P0.01）.The post-treatment symptom improving rate in the treated group was 72.73%,which was higher than that in the control group（50.00%,P0.05）.Moreover,the former was superior in improving hematologic and hemorrheologic parameters in terms of prolonging activated partial thromboplastin time,lowering whole blood middle/low shear viscosity,and plasma viscosity（P0.05 or P0.01）. Two patients in the control group but none in the treatment group received hip joint replacement operation during the observation period.Conclusions：Chinese medicine ABDC therapy could effectively alleviate clinical symptoms and improve joint function of patients with SLE-ANFH.The mechanism may be related to its effects on improving high coagulation manner and trend for getting embolism.

NADPH Oxidase-Dependent Formation of Reactive Oxygen Species Contributes to Transforming Growth Factor β1-Induced Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition in Rat Peritoneal Mesothelial Cells,and the Role of Astragalus Intervention

Objective： To investigate the role of nicatinamide-adenine dinucleotide phosphate （NADPH） oxidase- dependent formation of reactive oxygen species （ROS） in the transforming growth factor β1 （TGF-β 1）-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition （EMT） in rat peritoneal mesothelial ceils （RPMCs）, and the effect of Astragalus injection （AGI） intervention. Methods： Primary RPMCs were cultured to the second generation in vitro. After synchronization for 24 h, the calls were randomly assigned to the following groups： control （Group A）, AGI （2 g/mL; Group B）, TGF- β1 （10 ng/mL; Group C）, TGF- β1 （10 ng/mL） ＋ AGI （2 g/mL; Group D; pretreated for 1 h with AGI before TGF-β 1 stimulation）. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction （RT-PCR） and Westem blot analysis were employed to evaluate the mRNA and protein expression of the NADPH oxidase subunit p67phox, e-smooth muscle actin （α -SMA） and E-cadherin. The dichlorofluorescain-sensitive cellular ROS levels were measured by a fluorometric assay and confocal microscopy. Results： TGF- β1 significantly induced NADPH oxidase subunit p67phox mRNA and protein expression in RPMCs, as well as inducing the production of intracellular ROS. AGI inhibited this TGF- β1-induced up-regulation by 39.3% and 47.8%, respectively （P〈0.05）, as well as inhibiting the TGF- β 1- induced ROS generation by 56.3% （P〈0.05）. TGF- β 1 also induced α-SMA mRNA and protein expression, and down-regulated E-cadhedn mRNA and protein expression （P〈0.05）. This effect was suppressed by AGI （P〈0.05）. Conclusions： NADPH oxidase-dependent formation of ROS may mediate the TGF- β1-dependent EMT in RPMCs. AGI could inhib/t this process, providing a theoretical basis for AGI in the prevention of peritoneal fibrosis.

Effect of Tongxie Yaofang(痛泻要方) Granule in Treating Diarrhea-Predominate Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Objective:To study the clinical effect of Tongxie Yaofang(痛泻要方,TXYF) Granule in treating diarrhea-predominate irritable bowel syndrome(D-IBS) and its possible mechanism.Methods:A total of 120 patients were assigned to two groups using stratified block randomization,80 in the intervention group and 40 in the control group.To the intervention group the TXYF granule was given at one package each time,twice a day; the control group was treated with Miyarisan three times a day,two tablets each time.The course of...

Ear Acupuncture for Perimenopause Syndrome:A Multi-centered Randomized Controlled Trial

Objective： To observe and evaluate the clinical effect of ear acupuncture in treating perimenopause syndrome. Methods： A multi-centered randomized controlled trial was conducted and the enrolled participants were divided into an ear acupuncture group and a control group. The ear acupuncture group was treated by electroacupuncture at auricular points, and the control one was prescribed for Geng Nian An （Menopause Helper） tablets. The therapeutic effects were evaluated after 10-day treatments. Results： For pre-menopausal patients, the total effective rate was 96.8% in the ear acupuncture group, versus 56.3% in the control. For post-menopausal patients, the total effective rate was 85.7% in the ear acupuncture group, versus 53.0% in the control. Conclusion： Both ear acupuncture and Geng Nian An （Menopause Helper） tablets were effective in ameliorating symptoms of perimenopause syndrome, with satisfactory compliance and safety. The clinical effect of ear acupuncture is better than that of Geng Nian An （Menopause Helper） tablets.